we two-第57章

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〃The　stations　will　be　watched；〃　Haeberlein　was　saying。

〃What　station　do　you　go　to？〃　asked　Erica。

〃I　thought　of　trying　Cannon　Street；〃　replied　the　German。

〃Because；〃　continued　Erica；　〃I　think　you　had　better　let　me　see　you　off。　　You　will　look　like　a　young　Englishman；　and　I　shall　do　all　the　talking；　so　that　you　need　not　betray　your　accent。　　They　would　never　dream　of　Herr　Haeberlein　laughing　and　talking　with　a　young　girl。〃

〃They　would　never　dream　that　a　young　girl　would　be　brave　enough　to　run　such　a　risk！〃　said　Haeberlein。　　〃No；　my　sweet　Herzblattchen；　I　could　not　bring　thee　into　danger。〃

〃There　will　be　none　for　me；〃　said　Erica；　〃and　it　may　save　you　from　evil　and　my　father　from　suspicion。　　Father；　if　you　will　let　me；　it　would　be　more　of　a　disguise　than　anything。〃

〃You　might　meet　some　one　you　know；〃　said　Raeburn。

〃Very　unlikely；〃　she　replied。　　〃And　even　if　I　did；　what　would　it　matter？　　I　need　not　tell　them　anything；　and　Herr　Haeberlein　would　get　off　all　the　same。〃

He　saw　that　she　was　too　pure　and　too　unconventional　to　understand　his　objection；　but　his　whole　heart　rebelled　against　the　idea　of　letting　her　undertake　the　task；　and　it　was　only　after　much　persuasion　that　she　drew　from　him　a　reluctant　consent。　　After　all；　it　would　be　a　great　safeguard　to　Haeberlein；　and　Haeberlein　was　his　dearest　friend。　　For　no　one　else　could　he　have　risked　what　was　so　precious　to　him。　　There　was　very　little　time　for　discussion。　　The　instant　his　permission　was　given；　Erica　ran　upstairs　to　Tom's　private　den；　lighted　his　gas　stove；　and　made　a　cup　of　chocolate；　at　the　same　time　blackening　a　cork　very　carefully。　　In　a　few　minutes　she　returned　to　the　study；　carrying　the　chocolate　and　a　plate　of　rusks；　which　she　remembered　were　a　particular　weakness　of　Herr　Haeberlein's。　　She　found　that　in　her　absence　the　two　had　been　discussing　matters　again；　for　Haeberlein　met　her　with　another　remonstrance。

〃Liebe　Erica；〃　he　began；　〃I　yielded　just　now　to　thy　generous　proposal；　but　I　think　it　will　not　do。　　For　myself　I　can　be　rash；　but　not　for　thee。　　Thou　art　too　frail　and　lovely；　my　little　one；　to　get　mixed　up　with　the　grim　realities　of　such　a　life　as　mine。〃

She　only　laughed。　　〃Why；　I　have　been　mixed　up　with　them　ever　since　I　was　a　baby！〃

〃True；　but　now　it　is　different。　　The　world　might　judge　thee　harshly；　people　might　say　things　which　would　wound　thee。〃

〃They　say！　　LET　them　say！'〃　quoted　Erica；　smiling。　　〃mens　conscia　recti　will　carry　one　through　worse　things　than　a　little　slander。　　No；　no；　you　must　really　let　me　have　my　own　way。　　It　is　right；　and　there's　an　end　of　it！〃

Raeburn　let　things　run　their　course；　he　agreed　with　Erica　all　the　time；　though　his　heart　impelled　him　to　keep　her　at　home。　　And　as　to　Eric　Haeberlein；　it　would　have　needed　a　far　stronger　mind　than　that　of　the　sweet…tempered；　quixotic　German　to　resist　the　generous　help　offered　by　such　a　lovely　girl。

There　was　no　time　to　lose；　the　latest　train　for　the　Continent　left　at　9：25；　and　before　Haeberlein　had　adjusted　his　new　disguise　the　clock　struck　nine。　　Erica　very　carefully　blackened　his　eyebrows　and　ruthlessly　sheared　the　long　black　wig　to　an　ordinary　and　unnoticeable　length；　and；　when　Tom's　ulster　and　hat　were　added；　the　disguise　was　so　perfect；　and　made　Haeberlein　look　so　absurdly　young；　that　Raeburn　himself　could　not　possibly　have　recognized　him。

In　past　years　Raeburn　had　often　risked　a　great　deal　for　his　friend。　　At　one　time　his　house　had　been　watched　day　and　night　in　consequence　of　his　well…known　friendship　with　the　Republican　Don　Quixote。　　Unfortunately；　therefore；　it　was　only　too　probable　that　Haeberlein　in　risking　his　visit　this　evening　might　have　run　into　a　trap。　　If　he　were　being　searched　for；　his　friend's　house　would　almost　inevitably　be　watched。

They　exchanged　farewells；　not　without　some　show　of　emotion　on　each　side；　and　just　at　the　last　Raeburn　hastily　bent　down　and　kissed　Erica's　forehead；　at　his　heart　a　sickening　sense　of　anxiety。　　She　too　was　anxious；　but　she　was　very　happy　to　have　found　on　the　evening　of　her　baptism　so　unusual　a　service　to　render　to　her　father；　and；　besides；　the　consciousness　of　danger　always　raised　her　spirits。

When；　as　they　had　half　expected；　they　found　the　would…be　natural…looking　detective　prowling　up　and　down　the　cul…de…sac；　it　was　no　effort　to　her　to　begin　at　once　a　laughing　account　of　a　school　examination　which　Charles　Osmond　had　told　her　about；　and　so　naturally　and　brightly　did　she　talk　that；　though　actually　brushing　past　the　spy　under　the　full　light　of　the　street　lamp。；　she　entirely　disarmed　suspicion。

It　was　a　horrible　moment；　however。　　Her　heart　beat　wildly　as　they　passed　on；　and　every　moment　she　thought　she　should　hear　quick　steps　behind　them。　　But　nothing　came　of　it；　and　in　a　few　minutes　they　were　walking　down　Southampton　Row。　　When　this　was　safely　passed；　she　began　to　feel　comparatively　at　ease。　　Haeberlein　thought　they　might　take　a　cab。

〃Not　a　hansom；〃　she　said；　quickly；　as　he　was　on　the　point　of　hailing　one。　　〃You　would　be　so　much　more　exposed；　you　know！〃

Haeberlein　extolled　her　common　sense；　and　they　secured　a　four…wheeler　and　drove　to　Cannon　Street。

Talking　now　became　more　possible。　　Haeberlein　leaned　far　back　in　the　corner；　and　spoke　in　low　tones。

〃Thou　has　been　my　salvation；　Erica；〃　he　said；　pressing　her　hand。　　〃That　fellow　would　never　have　let　me　pass　in　the　Italian　costume。　　Thou　wert　right　as　usual；　it　was　theatrical　how　do　you　call　stagey；　is　it　not？

〃I　am　a　little　troubled　about　your　mouth；〃　said　Erica；　smiling；　〃the　mustache　doesn't　disguise　it；　and　it　looks　so　good…tempered　and　like　itself。　　Can't　you　feel　severe　just　for　half　an　hour？〃

Haeberlein　smiled　his　irresistibly　sweet　smile；　and　tried　to　comply　with　her　wishes；　but　not　very　successfully。

〃I　think；〃　said　Erica；　presently；　〃it　will　be　the　best　way；　if　you　don't　mind；　for　you　just　to　stroll　through　the　booking　office　while　I　take　your　ticket。　　I　can　meet　you　by　the　book　stall　and　I　will　still　talk　for　us　both　in　case　you　betray　your　accent。〃

〃HERZBLATTCHEN！〃　exclaimed　Haeberlein；　〃how　shall　I　ever　repay　thee！　　Thou　art　a　real　canny　little　Scot！　　I　only　wish　I　had　half　thy　caution　and　forethought！〃

〃Don't　look　like　that！〃　said　Erica；　laughing；　as　the　benignant　expression　once　more　came　over　his　lips。　　〃You　really　must　try　to　turn　down　the　corners！　　Your　character　is　a　silent；　morose　misanthrope。　　I　am　the　chatter　box；　pure　and　simple。〃

They　were　both　laughing　when　they　drew　near　to　the　station；　but　a　sense　of　the　risk　sobered　Haeberlein；　and　Erica　carried　out　her　programme　to　perfection。　　It　was　rather　a　shock　to　her；　indeed；　to　find　a　detective　keenly　inspecting　all　who　went　to　the　ticket　office。　　He　stood　so　close　to　the　pigeon　hole　that　Erica　doubted　whether　Herr　Haeberlein's　eyebrows；　improved　though　they　were；　could　possibly　have　escaped　detection。　　It　required　all　her　self　command　to　prevent　her　color　from　rising　and　her　fingers　from　trembling　as　she　received　the　ticket　and　change　under　that　steady　scrutiny。　　Then　she　passed　out　on　to　the　platform　and　found　that　Herr　Haeberlein　had　been　wise　enough　to　buy　the　paper　which　least　sympathized　with　his　views；　and　in　a　few　minutes　he　was　safely　disposed　in　the　middle　of　a　well…filled　carriage。

Erica　took　out　her　watch。　　There　were　still　three　minutes　before　the　train　started；　three　long；　interminable　minutes！　　She　looked　down　the　platform；　and　her　heart　died　within　her；　for；　steadily　advancing　toward　them；　she　saw　two　men　making　careful　search　in　every　carriage。

Herr　Haeberlein　was　sitting　with　his　back　to　the　engine。　　Between　him　and　the　door　sat　a　lady　with　a　copy　of　the　〃Graphic〃　on　her　knee。　　If　she　could　only　have　been　persuaded　to　read　it；　it　might　have　made　an　effectual　screen。　She　tried　to　will　her　to　take　it　up；　but　without　success。　　And　still　the　detectives　moved　steadily　forward　with　their　keen　scrutiny。

Erica　was　in　despair。　　Herr　Haeberlein　imagined　himself　safe　now；　and　she　could　not　warn　him　without　attracting　the　notice　and　rousing　the　suspicion　of　the　passengers。　　To　complete　her　misery；　she　saw　that　he　had　pushed　his　wig　a　little　on　one　side；　and　through　the　black　hair　she　caught　a　glimpse　of　silver　gray。

Her　heart　beat　so　fast　that　it　almost